Wedge arrangement for a hot top

ABSTRACT

A hot top structure for an ingot mold, the structure including a plurality of preformed insulating panels suspended around the inside surface of the top of the ingot mold, a clip mounted on each edge of each panel, each clip having a flat inner section overlying a portion of the inner surface of the panel and an end section bent inwardly at an acute angle to the flat inner section to form a downwardly and outwardly extending channel along the inner surface of the panel and a wedging member having side edges positioned in the channels of adjacent clips and bearing on the flat inner section of the clip.

United States Patent H91 [111 3,713,621

Davidson 1 1 Jan. 30, 1973 54 WEDGE ARRANGEMENT FOR A HOT 404,689 6/1889Davis ..248/l88 op 1,054,711 3 1913 Parry ..287/20.92 o x Inventor:Edwin ,1. Davidson, Wexford, Pa.

Thiem Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis.

Filed: Oct. 1, 1969 Appl. No.: 862,872

Assignee:

US. Cl ..249/106, 249/197 Int. Cl. ..B22d 7/10 Field of Search..249/197202, 106;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Lindsay ..287/20.92 X Koch et al...249/202 X Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin Attorney-Ronald E. Barryand James Nilles [57] ABSTRACT A hot top structure for an ingot mold,the structure including a plurality of preformed insulating panelssuspended around the inside surface of the top of the ingot mold, a clipmounted on each edge of each panel, each clip having a flat innersection overlying a portion of the inner surface of the panel and an endsection bent inwardly at an acute angle to the flat inner section toform a downwardly and outwardly extending channel along the innersurface of the panel and a wedging member having side edges positionedin the channels of adjacent clips and bearing on the flat inner sectionof the clip.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures WEDGE ARRANGEMENT FOR A HOT TOP BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION Hot top structures of the type contemplated herein areused to insulate the top of an ingot mold in order to delay the coolingof the molten metal in the hot top. In some instances, particularly insteel making, exothermic materials are incorporated in the panels whichmake up the hot top structure to provide heat around the top of theingot to further delay cooling of the molten metal in the hot top at thetop of the ingot. This molten metal will fill the cavity which forms inthe ingot upon solidification of the molten metal.

The insulating panels or sideboards which make up the hot top structureare suspended in the top of the ingot mold in a closely spaced relationto the adjacent panels. The molten metal, as it rises in the ingot,flows into the space between the panels and the ingot mold. If asufficient amount of molten metal enters the space between the panel andthe ingot mold, the panel will float in the molten metal destroying theinsulating effect of the panel.

Efforts to overcome this problem as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,421,731 haveresulted in the elimination of the floating problem. However, the panelswhich are used to form the hot top structure in this patent have groovesprovided in the panels for the wedges. These grooves have weakened thepanels to such an extreme that a high rate of breakage of the panels hasresulted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The hot top structure disclosed herein providesan improved wedging arrangement for a hot top structure formed from aplurality of panels. This wedging arrangement reduces breakage in thepanels, as well as preventing floating of the panels in the molten metalin the ingot mold. The wedging arrangement includes a clip which ismounted on the edges of each panel and a wedging member that is insertedbetween the clips and adjacent panels to wedge the panels against theingot mold. The clip provides a bearing surface for the wedging memberto thereby eliminate undue stresses in portions of the panel. Recessesare provided in the edges of each panel to positively locate the clipsand prevent their movement during implacement of the panels in the hottop.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of an ingot moldshowing the wedging attachment.

FIG. 2 is a view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 showing the wedgingattachment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in perspective of a portion of the hot topstructure.

FIG. 4 is a view of an alternate form of wedging member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Although the disclosure hereof is detailedand exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention,the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the inventionwhich may be embodied in other specific structure.

The hot top structure of this invention generally includes a number ofsideboards or panels 10 suspended in the top of an ingot mold 14 bymeans of angle irons l2 embedded in the panels 10. The panels 10generally include an inner face 13, an outer face 15 and edges 16 andare positioned around the entire upper periphery of the inside of thetop of the ingot mold 14. The edges 16 of each of the panels 10 arepositioned in a parallel spaced relation to the edges of the adjacentpanels 10. The panels 10 are therefore free to move relative to eachother and away from the inner surface 18 of the ingot mold.

The panels or sideboards 10 are molded from a refractory material suchas sand and are bonded together by any of a number of well knownadhesives such as sodium silicate or any of the known resins. If thepanels are to be used in an ingot mold for casting steel, an exothermicmaterial is usually incorporated in the panel either as a coating or asa part of the panel. As used herein, an insulating panel refers to apanel either including or not including exothermic materials.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for wedging thepanels 10 against the inner surface 18 of the ingot mold 14. Such meansis in the form of a pair of clips 20 which are attached to theoppositely disposed edges 16 of adjacent panels 10. The clips areidentical in cross section except that one is the mirror image of theother.

More particularly, each clip 20 is bent from a flat piece of sheet metaland includes an inner section 24, an edge section 26 and an outersection 28. The angles between the inner section 24 and edge section 26and between the edge section 26 and outer section 28 conform to theangles between the inner surface 13 and edge 16 and edge 16 and outersurface 15. As seen in FIG. 2, the angle between the inner section 24and edge section 26 is an obtuse angle and the angle between the edgeportion 26 and outer face portion 28 is acute.

Means are provided on the face 24 to form a downwardly and outwardlyinclined channel or groove 30 on each of the clips 20. Such meansincludes an end section of flange 32 bent inwardly from the innersection 24 at an acute angle and inclined downwardly and outwardly onthe inner surface 13 of the panel 10. The end sections 32 on oppositelydisposed clips should lie in substantially the same plane.

The panels are wedged against the ingot mold by means of a wedge member34 which is pushed downwardly into the channels 30 in oppositelydisposed clips 20. The wedge member 34 is formed from a rigid plate orpanel of either metal or wood and has side edges 36 which converge atapproximately the same angle as the channels 30 in adjacent clips. Thewedge member 34 is supported on the end section 32 and is firmly seatedin the channels 30 with the side edges 36 providing an outward bearingforce on said panels. The wedge member can be tapped with a hammer ormallet to firmly seat the panels against the ingot mold. The innersection 24 overlies a portion of the inner surface 13 and acts as abearing surface to minimize the bearing forces acting on the panel whenthe wedge member is driven home.

An alternate form of wedge member is shown in FIG. 4 and comprises aV-shaped flexible rod 38 having outwardly diverging legs 40 whichconverge at their lower ends 42. The legs 40 of the wedging member arespaced apart a distance greater than the distance between the channels30 in oppositely disposed clips. The V-shaped rod 38 is inserted intothe channels 30 in oppositely disposed clips and is pushed downward tosqueeze the legs 40 slightly. The inherent bias of the rod will producean outward bias force on the inner surface of the panels.

Means are provided for maintaining the location of the clips 20 inadjacent edges of the panels during assembly. Such means comprises arecess 44 in the outer surface of each of the panels 10 and a recess 46in the side edges 16 of each of the panels 10. The clips 20 are placedon the panels with the outer section 28 seated in the recess 44 and theedge section 26 seated in the recess 46.

Various of the features of this invention are set forth in the followingclaims What is claimed is:

1. A hot top structure for an ingot mold, said structure comprising anumber of insulating panels adapted to be suspended around the inside ofthe top of the ingot mold and having an inner surface and an outersurface,

each panel having edges adapted to be disposed in a spaced relation tothe edges of adjacent panels in the hot top structure, a recess in eachedge of each of said panels, said recesses in adjacent edges beinglocated opposite each other,

a clip mounted on each edge of said panels and including an edge sectionadapted to be seated in said recess in the edge of said panel, an innersection overlying a portion of the inner surface of said panel and anend section forming a downwardly and outwardly inclined channel withsaid inner section, and a wedge member adapted to be positioned in saidchannel in adjacent clips for wedging said panels against the ingotmold.

2. The hot top structure according to claim 1 wherein said wedge membercomprises a flexible V- shaped rod having diverging legs which arecompressed between'said channels in adjacent clips.

3. The hottop according to claim 1 wherein each of said panels includesa recess in the outer surface.

and said clips each include an outer section adapted to be seated insaid recess.

4. A hot top structure in combination with an ingot mold, said structurecomprising a plurality of performed insulating panels positioned aroundthe inside surface of the top of the ingot mold,

each of said panels having edges disposed oppositely to the edges of theadjacent panels and a recess in each edge,

a clip having an edge section seated in said recess in each edge of eachpanel and having a flange inclined downwardly and outwardly along theinner surface of said panel, and

a wedge member positioned between adjacent clips and supported on saidflanges to wedge said panels against the ingot mold.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said wedge member includesdownwardly converging side edges which correspond to and bearon saidflanges.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said wedge member includesdownwardly diverging legs which are compressed between said flanges.

7. A hot top for an ingot mold, said hot top comprismg a plurality ofpreformed insulating panels,

means for suspending said panels in edge adjacent relation around theinside surface of the ingot mold,

a clip positioned on each edge of each panel with an inner sectionoverlying a portion of the inner surface of the panel and having adownwardly and outwardly inclined flange,

a recess in each edge of said panels for seating each clip on each panelin adjacent relation to the clips on the adjacent panels,

and a wedging member supported on said flanges on adjacent clips toprovide an outward bearing force on the adjacent panels.

8. The hot top according to claim 7 wherein said wedging member includesconverging side edges to provide the outward bias.

9. The hot top according to claim 8 wherein said wedging member includesoutwardly diverging legs to provide the outward bias.

1. A hot top structure for an ingot mold, said structure comprising anumber of insulating panels adapted to be suspended around the inside ofthe top of the ingot mold and having an inner surface and an outersurface, each panel having edges adapted to be disposed in a spacedrelation to the edges of adjacent panels in the hot top structure, arecess in each edge of each of said panels, said recesses in adjacentedges being located opposite each other, a clip mounted on each edge ofsaid panels and including an edge section adapted to be seated in saidrecess in the edge of said panel, an inner section overlying a portionof the inner surface of said panel and an end section forming adownwardly and outwardly inclined channel with said inner section, and awedge member adapted to be positioned in said channel in adjacent clipsfor wedging said panels against the ingot mold.
 1. A hot top structurefor an ingot mold, said structure comprising a number of insulatingpanels adapted to be suspended around the inside of the top of the ingotmold and having an inner surface and an outer surface, each panel havingedges adapted to be disposed in a spaced relation to the edges ofadjacent panels in the hot top structure, a recess in each edge of eachof said panels, said recesses in adjacent edges being located oppositeeach other, a clip mounted on each edge of said panels and including anedge section adapted to be seated in said recess in the edge of saidpanel, an inner section overlying a portion of the inner surface of saidpanel and an end section forming a downwardly and outwardly inclinedchannel with said inner section, and a wedge member adapted to bepositioned in said channel in adjacent clips for wedging said panelsagainst the ingot mold.
 2. The hot top structure according to claim 1wherein said wedge member comprises a flexible V-shaped rod havingdiverging legs which are compressed between said channels in adjacentclips.
 3. The hot top according to claim 1 wherein each of said panelsincludes a recess in the outer surface. and said clips each include anouter section adapted to be seated in said recess.
 4. A hot topstructure in combination with an ingot mold, said structure comprising aplurality of performed insulating panels positioned around the insidesurface of the top of the ingot mold, each of said panels having edgesdisposed oppositely to the edges of the adjacent panels and a recess ineach edge, a clip having an edge section seated in said recess in eachedge of each panel and having a flange inclined downwardly and outwardlyalong the inner surface of said panel, and a wedge member positionedbetween adjacent clips and supported on said flanges to wedge saidpanels against the ingot mold.
 5. The combination of claim 4 whereinsaid wedge member includes downwardly converging side edges whichcorrespond to and bear on said flanges.
 6. The combination of claim 4wherein said wedge member includes downwardly diverging legs which arecompressed between said flanges.
 7. A hot top for an ingot mold, saidhot top comprising a plurality of preformed insulating panels, means forsuspending said panels in edge adjacent relation around the insidesurface of the ingot mold, a clip positioned on each edge of each panelwith an inner section overlying a portion of the inner surface of thepanel and having a downwardly and outwardly inclined flange, a recess ineach edge of said panels for seating each clip on each panel in adjacentrelation to the clips on the adjacent panels, and a wedging membersupported on said flanges on adjacent clips to provide an outwardbearing force on the adjacent panels.
 8. The hot top according to claim7 wherein said wedging member includes converging side edges to providethe outward bias.